Instructor-led training is a method of training where an instructor guides learners through the course material in a structured setting. Instructor-led classroom training is a tried-and-true method, but training can also take place remotely. 

How can instructor-led training help your organization? And how can you keep students engaged throughout the course? Read on to learn more about how traditional settings and online learning can both help educate trainees.

What are the Advantages of Instructor-Led Training?

Self-paced training has its place, but instructor-led training provides plenty of advantages that may be necessary depending on your needs. Some of the key advantages of this type of training are:

• Personalized and immediate feedback: One significant advantage of instructor-led training is the built-in ability to provide direct feedback to learners. This capability applies to both instructor led online training and classroom training. Instructors are able to continuously observe how students absorb information and provide individual help to overcome any hurdles or give encouragement.
• Able to adapt to specific needs: Similarly, instructors can supplement existing content with other types of instructor-led training if learners are struggling to absorb the material. If a specific learner is struggling, the instructor can give them extra attention to ensure they absorb the material and know how to use it.
• Dynamic learning experience: Self-paced learning often results in bored learners moving through the material, while instructor-led learning helps keep the material engaging. The instructor can help add anecdotes, examples, or group discussions to avoid strictly going through the learning material.
• Creates a structured environment: While every learner has their own preferred way of learning, it’s common for them to respond to structured environments. Instructors are able to provide structure to learning environments by following pre-made environments and also controlling the pace at which learners engage with a lesson.

Some types of content can be handled with self-paced learning management systems (LMS), but more complex or lengthy topics can benefit from instructor-led environments.

How to Make Instructor-led Training Engaging

We’ve explored the key benefits of instructor led training, but it’s crucial to make training engaging to reap those rewards. So, let’s break down some best practices to help make instructor-led environments as engaging as possible.

Incorporate Multimedia

Varying the types of training material can go far in keeping material engaging. Listening to an instructor read through dense documentation can quickly disengage learners, but using videos and whiteboards to go through the same information can keep users focused.

Providing hands-on experience can go far in engaging learners, depending on the topic. For example, if you’re training employees on using new software, letting them use it in a virtualized environment can be highly beneficial for both engagement and being prepared to use the new tool.

Encourage Participation

Participation is a tried-and-tested way to keep training sessions engaging. Asking questions at regular intervals, calling on different students, and creating room for discussions create a more dynamic learning environment.

Additionally, creating time for Q&A sessions lets learners cover any gaps in the material they didn’t absorb fully or want additional information about. Specific segments or each training session can have a Q&A to help reinforce information.

Provide Break and Flexible Pacing

Scheduling breaks at specific intervals helps learners disengage from the session, stretch their legs or talk to each other, and then re-engage when the break ends. Breaks in remote learning environments may look a little different, but they should still be provided so they can use the restroom or check their phones, and then come back refreshed.

In addition to breaks, varying the pacing of moving through the material can help keep learners from losing focus. Sometimes, you may need to go through dense material, but then you can follow up those sections by watching a video or discussion. You can also vary the length of sessions themselves based on the learning environment.